The Chairman of Agege Local Government Area, Abdul-Ganiyu Obasa, has been elected President of the West African chapter of the Young Elected Local Officials (YELO), a youth-focused leadership network under United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG Africa).
His emergence marks a significant milestone for Nigeria and reflects a growing shift towards youth-driven leadership within Africa’s local governance systems.
UCLG Africa, established in 2005, serves as a continental umbrella body representing local and regional governments. The organisation brings together 51 national associations and over 2,000 cities and territories, representing more than 350 million people across Africa. Its core mandate includes strengthening local governance, promoting decentralisation, and improving service delivery at the grassroots level.
YELO, a specialised arm of the organisation, focuses on empowering young elected officials under the age of 35 from municipal and subnational governments across Africa’s five regions. The network aims to amplify youth voices in governance, foster collaboration, and build leadership capacity among emerging public office holders.
Obasa’s election is particularly noteworthy as he is regarded as one of Nigeria’s youngest serving local government chairmen, underscoring the increasing influence of young leaders in shaping policy and governance at the grassroots.
As West Africa president of YELO, he is expected to coordinate regional activities, promote youth participation in governance, and facilitate the exchange of ideas and best practices among young leaders.
The network’s structure includes an Assembly, Council, Bureau and Presidency, with members serving terms aligned with UCLG Africa’s governance framework.
Observers say Obasa’s new role could further position Nigeria as a key player in advancing youth inclusion and leadership development within Africa’s local government ecosystem.
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